The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Gender and Water Task Force - Global

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In September 2003, 15 representatives of UN agencies and NGOs working in the areas of water and sanitation convened an inter-agency Task Force on Gender and Water. As part of the activities of the International Year of Freshwater 2003, the Task Force will work to facilitate gender mainstreaming in policies and programmes and assist in the implementation of gender-sensitive water and sanitation activities within and outside the UN system. The new task force was initiated by the Interagency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE) and was subsequently endorsed by the inter-agency group of agencies and programmes called UN-Water in June 2003. The purpose of the programme is to foster dialogue between gender specialists on the one hand, and water and sanitation experts on the other. It is hoped that this dialogue will lead to concrete strategies related to strengthening gender mainstreaming in the water and sanitation sector. The task force also aims to play a role in the work of the 12th and 13th sessions of the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD), whose 2003-2005 programmes will focus on water, sanitation, and human settlements.
Communication Strategies
Face-to-face meetings focussing on experience sharing, strategising, and advocacy efforts will characterise the work of the task force. For instance, participants in these meetings will advocate and promote gender mainstreaming in the implementation of Millenium Development Goals (MGDs) related to water and sanitation and in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Other activities will include promoting the inclusion of a gender perspective in the main themes of CSD-12 and -13; providing inputs to the World Water Assessment Programme so that the next edition of World Water Development Report (2006) incorporates gender into indicators and policy recommendations; and mainstreaming gender into field projects on water management.
Development Issues
Women, Water, Gender.
Key Points
The role of women in water resources management and sanitation, especially in developing countries, is increasingly being recognised. Organisers point out that women are the primary providers of water inputs to domestic consumption, agriculture, health, sanitation, and other productive activities; for this reason, they say, women's participation is critical. They claim that studies have shown that projects are more efficient and sustainable when women are involved in planning and design. Further, they point out that global freshwater supplies are degrading and local water resources are becoming scarcer.
Partners

13 UN agencies and programmes, including DESA, Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) and Sustainable Development Division; Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); the International Telecommunications Union (ITU); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF); UN-Habitat; the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); and the regional Economic and Social Commissions for Africa (ECA), Western Asia (ESCWA) and Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). 4 non-UN agencies are participating: the Gender and Water Alliance, Women's Environment and Development Organization, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC); and the UN Foundation.

Sources

Press release dated September 15 2003, forwarded by Eirah Gorre-Dale to The Communication Initiative on September 16 2003.